smurf players are based on R3 and down. Players based on R3 can't go higher due to match maker and then drop to R5. On R5 the vicious cycle get tuff because R5 is matched with R7. A regular R7 hopping to push up to R6 and get the luck to at least touch R5 for box, it gets frustrated because not only do have to compete with R7 mechs that are powerful already on all aspects but R6 are literally top on R5 power.
Those R7 are really pushed down to R8 which will get match up with R10 players very often and that it is a big deal in the game. R10 it has been a bottle neck for players to get out of that hell. Sadly, they end up playing with lower ranks way lower on power forcing the condition as a cascade all the way to R25 because a natural R10 by default does have L50 in their arsenal as normal game progress.
Sure, you can see on R17 or less against L50 frantic or else and that it is ridiculous way abusive as happen to me back on my starting days.
When I started, I have same issue been matched with mech with weapons in full or mechs way too high for me or my niece. We decided to get focused not in the fights but instead on farming regardless low play on pvp and that was a win for us. We became strong in matter of months for free.
So, for players out there, this issue it is not new, and it is a free way to play as player feel not been lock out but sure in some ways unfair for some players trying to fight at proper rank and power.
Just focus on farming and 5 wins and don't frustrate yourself. Do TITAN, RAID, GRIND-CAMPAIGN and look for an active clan for WAR all at your current power level and basic rank.
I have been making test for long and the game still match making my mechs with way to high HP and power level. Work on your modules whatever have to improve. Hold back some power on weapons to minimize the effect against yourself when use them till can average power of weapons with modules.
If you will lose a fight and played the fight almost ready to get your butt spanked, stay till lose to collect a bit more gold unless you bailout at start of the fight. Don't lose gold quitting when the fight is almost done and will lose. That it is not sense dumping gold and the time during the fight.
I remember when I started to play this game, some players decided to create a hunting clan and were hunting a lot but also that distortion even more the floor. I had to fight them and get my butt kicked all the time.
If that happen, I will hunt the hunters during my tests if I start to play again. I will be mean. I sometimes have to change test mechs because they are pushed down even to R11 when are based as R7 losing one fight after another.
Sadly, when I do the switch, the game instead to give me the abusers, it gives to me weak players like the game want to punish the weak over and over again.
Don't distortion more the game. I do not like to play serious because bored me and just max and test parts.